The next Rod Smith?

DENVER — Todd Devoe’s path to the NFL is eerily similar to that of Denver Broncos veteran Rod Smith.

Devoe and Smith were both undrafted free agents from small colleges in Missouri. They both put their team over personal accomplishments — up until Sunday’s 49-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Devoe was at best an overlooked player on special teams who filled in sparingly as the Broncos fourth receiver.

Perhaps the shared trait that gets them noticed, though, is the penchant to make big plays.

While Smith has established himself as the Broncos’ go-to receiver, it was Devoe catching all of the attention after a clutch play that put Sunday’s game against the Eagles out of reach.

With the Broncos clinging to a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter, Devoe, a first-year player from Central Missouri State, caught a pass over the middle from quarterback Jake Plummer and raced 44 yards to the end zone spurred by a key block from fellow receiver Ashley Lelie. It was the first touchdown of Devoe’s young career.

“That touchdown came at a pretty big time in the game,” said Devoe, who finished with a career best five catches for 59 yards to go along with his touchdown. “I just wanted to let my teammates know that I can make that play.”

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“He’s an excellent athlete,” Shanahan said. “He’s got big-time speed, and he’s got the ability to break tackles, and he helps us in the special teams area. I’m just glad we got him.”

Devoe is no stranger to making big plays, though. At Central Missouri, he set the single-season record for touchdowns with 12. It was his determination to make an NFL roster that kept him in pursuit of his pro football dream. He bounced around from the practice squads of the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins and saw action in NFL Europe before finding a home in Denver.

Just don’t try hinting at Smith, who played at Missouri Southern, that Devoe reminds people of him.

“No he doesn’t remind me of me,” Smith said. “He’s a (heck) of a lot better than I was.”